Itikaf / Etikaf during Ramadan !

Itikaf is a form of worship. It is formed by staying
in a Mosque for a certain time. It is Ehtiyat that
one should stay with the intention to worship Allah
by praying formal or informal prayers although
prayer is not a condition therein.

The
time for this form of worship could be anytime when
one is allowed to fast. The best time is the month
of Ramadan, especially, the last ten days.

Conditions for Etikaf during Ramadan:

1.
Intention as in the rest of the worship acts. It is
necessary that the intention be made at the
beginning of Itikaf so that the rule, requiring the
worship act to be completed with intention, be
followed thoroughly from the beginning to the end.
The decision made at the beginning of the night to
start etikaf from the beginning of the following day
will be open to objection. However, if one decides
to start it from the beginning of the night it is
not an offense to do so.

One
is not allowed to change one's mind from one Itikaf
to another of the same qualities or different.

2.
Belief in Islam.

3.
Freedom from mental illness.

4.
Fasting; thus the Itikaf of one who cannot fast for
some reason is not valid.

5.
Duration; which is three continuous days at least.
It could be more but not less than three days.

If
it is started from the beginning of a day the two
nights in between will be part of the duration. Less
than three days is not considered Itikaf.

That it must take place in one of these Mosques: (a)
The holy Mosque in Makkah, (b) the holy Mosque of
the Prophet in Medina, (c) the holy Mosque of Kufa,
(d) the holy Mosque of Basrah, and (e) the Mosque
which is assigned for the Friday prayer in any town
or city. It is Ehtiyat, however, to complete it in
any of the first four Mosques.

The
roof and basement of a Mosque is part of the same
and it is valid to complete Etikaf in such places of
a Mosque.

Permission of the people whose permission are
required such as the master for the slave, husband
and parents for the wife and children if this will
be against the right of the husband or causes
trouble to the parents.

6.
Completing it in the Mosque where it was started.
Thus, going out of the Mosque without an acceptable
reason will invalidate the Itikaf, regardless, one
knows the rule or is ignorant or has gone out
because of forgetfulness, except in the case of an
emergency or one being forced or it is because of
some need such as using wash room or having Taharat.

One
is allowed to come out of the Mosque during Itikaf
to take part in the burial of a deceased or to visit
an ailing one; Going out of the Mosque for a time
long enough to cause the Itikaf to become as
non-existing will be considered as invalidating the
same, even if one has not done it out of one's own
choice.

If
one needs to have Ghusl/bath during the Itikaf and
it is possible for him to have it inside the Mosque,
and is not allowed to go out unless the reason for
Ghusl requires him not to stay inside the Mosque.

Etikaf is originally an optional worship act but it
may become obligatory because of a vow etc.

Things to avoid during Itikaf:

1.
Having sex and also according to Ehtiyat kissing or
playing with one's wife;

2.
According to a necessary Ehtiyat causing a semen
discharge,

3.
And smelling perfumes for enjoyment; it is not an
offense if one cannot enjoy the perfume because of
some defect in his smelling ability.

4.
Selling or buying in the form of a business deal,
according to a necessary Ehtiyat; there is no
offense to be occupied with allowable activities as
sewing or writing etc., although it is a Mustahab
Ehtiyat to avoid them too.

If
one needs to buy something for food and there is no
one to do the buying for him, it is not an offence
for him to do it.

5.
Expressing bitterness in talking about worldly or
religious matters in order to prove one's ability,
not the truth which is one of the best worships.

The
contracts of buying or selling during Itikaf
invalidate Itikaf, but such contracts will be valid.

If
Itikaf is invalidated because of having sex even,
during the night, expiation will be due; if it is
invalidated by other things, there will be no
expiation, although it is a Mustahab Ehtiyat in this
case too.

The
expiation for invalidating an Itikaf is to set free
a slave or if this is not possible, fast for two
consecutive months or if this also is not possible,
feed sixty poor people.